Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-28
How the Murderers Took Him From the
Guards, Who Refused to Make an e.
fort to Save Him.
HUNTING REV. RYAES SLAYERS.
Three Detectives Visit the Scene Of 0utlawry
They Find the MurdsrOus Gang on
the Alert and the Roads Guarded
"A Hasty Retreat to
Safer Country.
Ttlsnrarl 10 ne Renster.

Burnett, W. q. Baldwin and Dan Gun
ningham, have just returned from trip
into Jackson and Roane counties in the
neighborhoOd of the murder Of Rev. Thos.
P. Ryan, last month. Baldwin gives the
following account: "We left here Sunday
and reached Sissonville, about thirteen
miles from the headquarters of the mob.
At Sissonville, = number of our friends
insisted that we should not 90 on, as the
mob were watching for US and had the
roads guarded and that we would be shot
down like dogs. That night we staid with
in two miles of their headquarters and
Monday morning we proceeded to their
place of rendezvous. We learned that
they were to meet that night in a school
house near by. We then rode through this
neighborhOod and went a. far rs Stats
Mills. When dark came we started to re-
turn. From friend we learned that the
band, about sixty strong, were waylaying
on the roads for US. This caused rs to
change our course and we'started for home
by the best and safest route. We had ac-
eomplished what we desired
AND WERE READY
to 90 home, but had We not been through
with our business, / don't think that we
would have stsid around very long. We
did not care to remain. On our trip We
saw a great many people. and it is gen.
orally believed by the better class that
Cunningham is innocent Of any com.
plieity in the Ryan murder.
A runner from Jackson county told me
that about one hundred persons surround
ell the house OF Ike Duff the night after
we left it. The mob watched al night
expecting uI to return, 50 that they
could have the pleasure OF numbering US
They swear that they will set hang us,
and that they will kill every officer that
takes part against them. The members
of the mob have threatened any citizen
that gives information against them The
officers say they will break up the gang or
kill every one Of them. The ROane county
officials have offered $500 apiece for each
one OF the gang who can be convicted 1t
is rumored that the mob say
THEY WILL COME HERE
after Burnett and Baldwin. 1t is a known
fact that the Regulators have spies in the
city watching every move by officers or de.
tectiyes.
Four reputable witnesses say that they
were with Cunningham ut his residence
fourteen miles from Ryan's the night after
the murder, and that Bob Duff was with
them. and that he could not have gone to
Ryan's and back as he did not leave Gun
ningham's until I o'clock next day.
Following is letter written by Koon to
his mother at Huntington. just before he
WAS lynched. 1t is dated October Is, 1887,
and is in his exact words as follows:
Darling mother hear is my latter For
have got die am accused OF murder when
god nose that j am innocent so i will Bid
you Fair well Sisters and Brothers have
got to die am accused Of murder Rev. T.
z. Ryan 90 hear is my last Darling Mother
Mrs f. f Hoon Huntington W Va from
your son w. ID. KoOn, Flat Fork, ". Va"
The above is the only letter written by
Koon, and is the one 81 Countz sent to
Mrs. Koon, which he said contained
Rooms confession.
MRS DUFF'S STATEMENT.
Mrs. Robert NJ. Duff makes the follow
ing statement:
ION the evening of the murder Of Rev.
Mr.. Ryan, my husband quit work esrly
and told me he was going TO see man By
the name Of Ballard Mangus, to get him to
dosome hauling He came home and said
Mr.. Mangus could not do the work before
the next morning, and that he believed he
would go over and see his grandmother,
Mrs Cunningham. He left and went over
and stayed sll night; came home the next
morning about nine o'clock, and went to
work as usual We never heard of the
murder of Mr.. Ryan until about five
o'clock that evening Pierce Skeen, VIM.
Skeen, Peter Skeen, Bob Skeen, 81 Coun;z,
and several other meu, came to our house
and told Robert they wanted him He
asked what for? They told him for the
murder of Mr.. Ryan. He said he would
not 20 without they brought warrant;
they then produced one. Robert said
he would then go rs he knew nothing
about the case. He went into the house
ard hunted up his pistol aud gun and
gave to the men, aud told them to guard
bim with his own arms; that he was inno-
cent and would 90 anywhere and stand
bis trial. He also told them he had pair
Of handouts which they could put on him.
These men have named are enemies of
my husband, and was afraid to see him
w with them, so followed along behind
them. They told me they would have 3
trial at Prices Robert told me must 20
back, as be was
GOING To BE KILLED.
The mob kept Robert and Mr.. Koon until
about four O'lock, then they started TO
Walton. They took Robert as far Is
David Cox's. About nine O'Clock that
night the mob came. A man named Hub
bert, from Roane county, went out and
talked to the mob. He came back, and /
asked him if they had come to kill Robert?
he answered, yes begged him to protect
Robert. He said he could not The
guards made no attempt to protect him
lone of them letting on he was asleep.
Three men came in and took Robert out.
Robert said to me, this man, pointing out
onel, Wade Countz. The mob
pulled Robert out Of the house
and the guards held nae to keep me from
following. begged them to let me follow
and to giyeIne q gun, but they were too
cowardly to shoot themselves or let me do
il. About this time some Of Roberts
friends came in and asked the guard to
summons them and they would protect
Robert, bat the guards would not do so.
As Robert was pulled ont Of the house he
raised his hands to heaven and says to me,
'rEllen, tonight / viii die but God
knows am ipnocent." This was the last
/ saw Of my husband until be was brought
in with his throat cut from ear to ear"
Mrs Duff Is brunette. quite handsome,
and about twenty years old, fairly educa-
ted, and is completely prostnted with